# Malaysia Federal Route 8

The Federal Route 8, also known as the Kuala Lumpur–Kota Bharu Highway (Malay: Jalan Kuala Lumpur–Kota Bharu), is a 402.7-km federal highway in Malaysia. It connects Bentong in the south to Kota Bharu in the north. The highway had two parts - Kota Bharu–Kuala Krai Road (Malay: Jalan Kota Bharu–Kuala Krai) and Bentong–Kuala Lipis Road (Malay: Jalan Bentong–Kuala Lipis) until the completion of the missing link from Kuala Krai to Kuala Lipis, causing the entire FT8 highway to take 99 years to be completed.

## Route background

The Kilometre Zero of the Federal Route 8 starts at its interchange with the Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway E8 (Exit 810) at Bentong, Pahang. Together with the Federal Route 9, it runs along the eastern foothills of the Titiwangsa Range from its southern terminus to Raub. Then, the highways runs further from the Titiwangsa towards Kuala Lipis, and then runs along the western foothills of the Tahan Range towards Kuala Krai. Finally, the Federal Route 8 runs along the eastern bank of the Kelantan River to its northern terminus at Kota Bharu.
The FT8 highway is notorious for its severe traffic congestion, especially along the Kota Bharu–Kuala Krai section. The traffic congestion becomes apparent during festive seasons, with the recorded journey time from Kuala Lumpur to Kota Bharu exceeding 16 hours during the 2014 Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season.

## History

A portion of the Federal Route 8 was a part of the 80-mile Kuala Kubu–Kuala Lipis Road, the earliest trunk road in Pahang, which was constructed by the Public Works Department in 1887. The Kuala Kubu–Kuala Lipis Road connected Kuala Kubu Bharu in Selangor and Kuala Lipis in Pahang. Later, a section from Teranum to Bentong was constructed in 1915. At the same time, the Kota Bharu–Kuala Krai Road was constructed, together with the Kuala Terengganu–Kuantan Road FT3. The original FT8 section from Raub to Bentong via Teranum was later bypassed by a more straight super two highway in 1958 in conjunction of the opening of FELDA Lurah Bilut, causing the old, winding section to be re-gazetted as the Federal Route 218.
However, Bentong–Kuala Lipis Road FT8 and Kota Bharu–Kuala Krai Road FT8 were not extended, creating a 219-km missing link from Kuala Lipis to Kuala Krai. The missing link was only constructed in 1981. The Kuala Krai–Gua Musang Highway FT8 was completed first in August 1983, followed by the Kuala Lipis–Gua Musang Highway FT8 in 1986.

### Upgrading into the Central Spine Road

Some parts of the Federal Route 8 can be seen to have constructions which are an upgrading progress of the route. The highway construction can be seen after Merapoh which is at Bukit Tujuh. The highway will take a new route (Central Spine Road) at Chegar Perah thus reducing the accident risks involving animals and sharp corners. Now, some parts of the old route at Chegar Perah had been demolished and motorist have been redirected into the Central Spine Road for a few kilometres before being redirected back to the Federal Route 8 just before Bukit Tujuh (Seven Hills).

## Junctions and towns (south–north)

The following is a list of junctions of Route 8, and the towns (in bold with capital letters) that the intersections serve.
| Km | Exit | Interchange | To | Remarks |
| 402.7 | 801 | Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway Bentong East | West East Coast Expressway FT 2 AH141 Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway Kuala Lumpur Gombak Genting Highlands East East Coast Expressway FT 2 AH141 Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway/East Coast Expressway Kuala Terengganu Kuantan Karak | Trumpet interchange |
| East Coast Expressway FT 2 AH141 Kuala Lumpur–Karak Expressway Kuala Lumpur–Gua Musang Highway Start/End of expressway ANIH Berhad border limit |||||
| FT 8 Kuala Lumpur–Kota Bharu Highway Kuala Lumpur–Gua Musang Highway Start/End of highway JKR border limit |||||
| | | Bentong Industrial Area | | Junctions |
| | | Central Spine Road Bentong | North FT 34 Central Spine Road Lurah Bilut via FT 8 Raub via FT 8 Kota Bharu via FT 8 Mempaga via FT 1498 | Half-diamond interchange Entry towards and exit from north only |
| | | Kampung Bukit Piatu | | |
| | | Kampung Benus | | |
| | | Sungai Benus bridge | | |
| | | Tengku Sulaiman Mosque | | |
| | | Bentong Ketari | West FT 68 Jalan Gombak-Bentong Bukit Tinggi Janda Baik Gombak Kuala Lumpur | Signalised T-junction |
| | | Bentong Taman Ketari | West | |
| | | Bentong Sungai Marong | West Taman Bukit Indah East Kampung Sungai Marong | Signalised crossroads |
| | | Sungai Bentong bridge | | |
| | | Bentong | Bentong Town Centre | Route known as Jalan Loke Yew South-bound traffic only North-bound traffic uses Jalan Ah Peng running parallel to the west |
| | | Bentong | East Bentong District and Land Office | |
| | | Bentong | East Bentong district mosque | |
| | | Kampung Chamang | West C136 Jalan Chamang Chamang New Village Chamang waterfall | T-junction |
| | | Kampung Kuala Repas | West | T-junction |
| | | Taman Desa Damai | West | T-junction |
| | | Old Bentong-Raub Road | North FT 218 Old Bentong-Raub Road Kampung Sungai Penjuring Sang Lee Kampung Sungai Chetang Teranum Kuala Kubu Bharu via FT 55 Fraser's Hill via FT 56 Kuala Lumpur via FT 1 Tanjung Malim via FT 1 | T-junction |
| | | Kampung Asap | Southeast FT 1496 Jalan Mempaga FELDA Mempaga Kampung Lebu Bentong via FT 34 | T-junction |
| | | Kampung Baharu | | |
| | | FELDA Lurah Bilut | East FT 1496 Jalan FELDA Lurah Bilut FELDA Lurah Bilut | T-junction |
| Bentong–Raub district border |||||
| | | Kampung Sungai Dalam | | |
| | | Raub FELDA Krau | East FT 1502 Jalan FELDA Krau Universiti Teknologi MARA Raub Campus FELDA Krau Kampung Melayu Sempalit | Signalised T-junction |
| | | Raub Jalan Tras | West FT 218 Old Bentong-Raub Road (also known as Jalan Tras) Teras Teranum Kuala Kubu Bharu via FT 55 Fraser's Hill via FT 56 Tanjung Malim via FT 1 Kuala Lumpur via FT 1 | Signalised T-junction Section of road between FT 218 intersection and Raub Town Centre is also known as Jalan Tras |
| | | Raub Taman Raub Jaya | West Taman Raub Jaya | |
| | | Raub Raub Town Centre | | Route known as Jalan Tun Razak South-bound traffic only North-bound traffic uses Jalan Dato' Abdullah running parallel to the west |
| | | Raub | Northwest C5 Jalan Cheroh-Batu Malim (Also known as just Jalan Cheroh in Raub Town) Cheroh Batu Talam Batu Malim Sungai Koyan via FT 1503 Cameron Highlands via FT 102 North C135 Jalan Tengku Abdul Samad Bukit Koman | Crossroads |
| | | Raub | Raub District and Land Office | |
| | | Kampung Pintu Padang | East C142 Jalan Ulu Gali Ulu Gali | T-junctions |
| | | Kampung Jemapai | | |
| | | Kampung Gali | | |
| | | Kampung Sungai Pasu | | |
| | | Dong | East C144 Jalan Dong Ulu Dong | T-junctions |
| | | Kampung Kuala Gali | | |
| | | Kampung Temau | East C146 Jalan Ulu Temau Kampung Ulu Temau | T-junctions |
| | | Kampung Ajai | | |
| | | Kuala Dong | West C158 Jalan Tanjung Tengku Tanjung Tengku Cheroh | T-junctions |
| | | Kampung Jeruas | | |
| | | Sega | West C2 Jalan Batu Talam Batu Talam | T-junctions |
| | | Kampung Jeram Besu | | |
| | | Kampung Batu Buaya | North C154 Jalan Seberang Lipis Kampung Seberang Lipis | T-junctions |
| | | Benta | East FT 64 Jerantut FT 98 Temerloh FT 98 Kuantan FT 64 Bandar Pusat Jengka FT 64 Maran | Roundabout |
| | | Sungai Benta bridge | | |
| Raub–Lipis district border |||||
| | | Taman Jelai | | |
| | | Kampung Rengai | | |
| | | Kampung Batu Enam | | |
| | | Kampung Binjai | | |
| | | Kuala Lipis | North FT 234 Jalan Pekeliling FT 234 Town Centre FT 234 Jerantut FT 234 Kerambit FT 234 Kuala Tembeling FT 234 Taman Negara (National Park) Kuala Lipis District and Land Office Masjid Sultan Mahmud (Kuala Lipis District Mosque) Tanjung Lipis Rest House Hospital Kuala Lipis Kuala Lipis Railway Station | T-junctions |
| | | Kuala Lipis | North Jalan Ceneras Town Centre Kuala Lipis District and Land Office Masjid Sultan Mahmud (Kuala Lipis District Mosque) Hospital Kuala Lipis Kuala Lipis Railway Station | T-junctions |
| | | Kampung Tempoyang | | |
| | | Berchang | West FT 235 Sungai Koyan FT 102 Cameron Highlands | T-junctions |
| | | Padang Tengku | | |
| | | Railway crossing bridge | | |
| | | Sungai Pahang bridge | | |
| | | Kampung Beralas | | |
| | | Kampung Seberang Jelai | | |
| | | Kuala Tui | | |
| | | Kampung Kechur | | |
| | | Jalan Utama Kecau | Southeast FT 1506 Jalan Utama Kecau Kuala Lipis | T-junctions |
| | | Kampung Melaka | | |
| | | Kampung Gelanggang | | |
| | | Kampung Sentang | | |
| | | Kampung Pagar Sasak | | |
| | | Kampung Bukit | | |
| | | Kampung Petola | | |
| | | Kampung Bedong | | |
| | | Kampung Tekal Jernih | | |
| | | Kampung Dada Kering | | |
| | | Taman Rimba Kenong | Taman Rimba Kenong | |
| | | FELDA Cegar Perah 1 & 2 | | |
| | | FELCRA Sungai Temau | | |
| | | Sungai Yu | | |
| | | Kampung Kubang Rasa | | |
| | | Kampung Merhamah | | |
| | | Kampung Persit | | |
| | | Merapoh | | |
| | | Kampung Tanggang | | |
| Pahang Darul Makmur Lipis district border |||||
| Kelantan border arch Pahang–Kelantan border |||||
| Kelantan Darul Naim Gua Musang district border |||||
| | | Kampung Sungai Tupai | | |
| | | Mentara | | |
| | | Kampung Batu Papan | | |
| | | Kampung Tanah Puteh | | |
| | | SMS Gua Musang | | |
| | | Gua Musang Rest and Service Area | Petron | |
| | | Gua Musang Jalan Industri roundabout | Jalan Industri West Pulai East Gua Musang Industrial Area | Roundabout |
| | | Gua Musang Jalan Industri interchange | Jalan Industri West Pulai East Taman Damar Taman Wangi | Diamond interchange |
| | | KESEDAR Golf Course | KESEDAR Golf Course | |
| | | Gua Musang Jalan Hospital | West FT 2744 Jalan Hospital Hospital Gua Musang | T-junctions |
| | | Gua Musang Bandar Baru Gua Musang | West Jalan Bandar Baru Bandar Baru Gua Musang Gua Musang District and Land Office Majlis Daerah Gua Musang (MDGM) headquarters Masjid Tengku Muhammad Faris Petra Kelantan South Development Authority (KESEDAR) headquarters Gua Musang District Library FELDA Gua Musang district office RISDA Gua Musang district office Malaysian Road Transport Department (JPJ) Gua Musang district headquarters FT 185 Second East–West Highway FT 59 Cameron Highlands FT 1 Simpang Pulai FT 1 Ipoh North–South Expressway Northern Route AH2 North–South Expressway Northern Route Bukit Kayu Hitam Penang Kuala Lumpur D29 Jalan Dabong–Gua Musang Dabong Jeli East Jalan PPR Gua Musang PPR Gua Musang | Junctions |
| | | Sungai Ketil bridge | | |
| | | Gua Musang Jalan Pulai | North Jalan Pulai Town Centre Kesedar Inn | T-junctions |
| | | Gua Musang Gua Musang railway station | Gua Musang railway station | T-junctions |
| | | Railway crossing bridge | | |
| | | Gua Musang Bandar Utama Gua Musang | Bandar Utama Gua Musang | T-junctions |
| FT 8Kuala Lumpur–Kota Bharu Highway Kuala Lumpur–Gua Musang Highway |||||
| FT 8Kuala Lumpur–Kota Bharu Highway Kuala Krai–Gua Musang Highway |||||
| | | Sungai Asap | | |
| | | Sungai Asap bridge | | |
| | | Jalan Sungai Cheweh | North D237 Jalan Sungai Cheweh Sungai Cheweh | T-junctions |
| | | Gua Musang Rest and Service Area | Shell | |
| | | Sungai Chiku bridge | | |
| | | Chiku | | |
| | | Chegar Bongor | | |
| | | Kampung Bukit Tebok | Northwest FT 66 Dabong FT 66 Jeli FT 4 Gerik | T-junctions |
| | | Sungai Lebir bridge | | |
| Jambatan Kuala Krai Sungai Gai bridge Gua Musang–Kuala Krai district border |||||
| | | Kampung Laloh | | |
| | | Lata Beringin | | |
| | | Kampung Karangan | | |
| | | Kampung Temiang | | |
| | | Manek Urai | | |
| | | Kampung Sungai Peria | | |
| | | Pahi | | |
| | | Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Kuala Krai | Maktab Rendah Sains MARA (MRSM) Kuala Krai | |
| | | Kuala Krai | Kuala Krai District and Land Office | |
| | | Kuala Krai | | |
| | | Guchil | | |
| FT 8Kuala Lumpur–Kota Bharu Highway Kuala Krai–Gua Musang Highway |||||
| FT 8Kuala Lumpur–Kota Bharu Highway Jalan Kota Bharu–Kuala Krai |||||
| | | Pekan Jambu Lawar Batu 30 | | |
| | | Kampung Keroh | | |
| Kuala Krai–Machang district border |||||
| | | Kampung Kijal | | |
| | | Kampung Merkel | | |
| | | Kampung Pemanok | | |
| | | Sungai Sat bridge | | |
| | | Machang Bypass | FT 8 Machang Bypass North Kota Bharu Kerteh | T-junctions |
| | | Machang | | |
| | | Machang (North) | West FT 4 AH140 Tanah Merah FT 4 AH140 Jeli FT 4 AH140 Gerik East FT 4 AH140 Pasir Puteh FT 3 AH18 Besut FT 3 AH18 Kuala Terengganu | Junctions |
| | | Machang Bypass | FT 8 Machang Bypass South Kuala Krai Gua Musang | T-junctions |
| | | Pulai Chondong | | |
| | | Ketereh | D14 Jalan Ketereh West Durian Rendang East Bachok Jelawat | Junctions |
| | | Kadok | | |
| Machang–Kota Bharu district border |||||
| | | Wakaf Che Yeh | West FT 207 Salor FT 207 Pasir Mas East FT 209 Pasir Hor FT 209 Kubang Kerian | Junctions |
| | | Wakaf Che Yeh | West FT 130 Salor FT 130 Pasir Mas | Junctions |
| | | Sungai Pengkalan Datu bridge | | |
| | | Bunut Payung | | |
| | | Kota Darul Naim | | |
| FT 8 0 | | Kota Bharu WKK Interchange | FT 3 AH18 Wakaf Bharu–Kota Bharu–Kubang Kerian Highway Northwest Jalan Hamzah Sultan Yahya Petra Bridge FT 3 AH18 Wakaf Baharu FT 3 AH18 Pasir Mas FT 3 AH18 Tumpat FT 3 AH18 Rantau Panjang 4057 AH18 Pattani (Thailand) Southeast Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra FT 57 Pengkalan Chepa FT 3 AH18 Peringat FT 3 AH18 Pasir Puteh FT 3 AH18 Kuala Terengganu FT 57 Sultan Ismail Petra Airport | Junctions |
| FT 8 Kuala Lumpur–Kota Bharu Highway Jalan Kota Bharu–Kuala Krai Start/End of highway |||||
| | | | North Jalan Sultan Ibrahim Kota Bharu Town Centre FT 223 Pantai Cahaya Bulan (Pantai Cinta Berahi) | |